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Paradise Junior High

Q: Is Paradise Junior High a good school?

Paradise Junior High ranks 1644 th of 2761 California middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 7-8

1644^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,761 California Middle Schools

Better than 40% of California middle schools

Summary

Paradise Junior High is a public middle school serving about 200 students in grades 7-8 in the Paradise Unified school district, a community still rebuilding from the 2018 Camp Fire.

The school has shown significant academic improvement recently, jumping to a higher state ranking for the 2024-2025 school year after several years in the lower percentiles, with notable gains in science and math scores across all student groups. However, it faces a major challenge with chronic absenteeism, with over 36% of students missing too much school, a rate nearly double the state average and much higher than nearby schools like Bidwell Junior High (16.3%) or Marsh (Harry M.) Junior High (16.9%). Interestingly, Paradise Charter Middle, located in the same town, outperforms it academically with lower absenteeism and significantly less funding per student.

When compared to other local schools, Paradise Junior High spends more per student but achieves lower academic outcomes, suggesting different challenges or resource allocation. The school's performance is also stronger than the average for its district, which ranks in the bottom 28% in the state. For parents, the key points are the promising recent academic rebound and the critical importance of student attendance, as the data shows a stark difference in outcomes between this school and higher-performing neighbors in the Chico Unified and other districts.

197

Students ?

16.5

Student/teacher ratio ?

$23,657

Per pupil spending ?

70.6%

Free/discounted lunch ?

5657 Recreation Dr.
Paradise, CA 95969-5194

(530) 872-6465

District: Paradise Unified

Students who attend Paradise Junior High usually attend:

High:

Paradise Senior High

Feeder schools for Paradise Junior High:

Elementary:	Paradise Elementary
	Ponderosa Elementary

Racial breakdown:

White:

70.1%

Hispanic:

19.8%

Two or more races:

5.6%

See top rated California middle schools

Compare Paradise Junior High to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Rebounding — 16th percentile in 2023 → 40th in 2025

Strengths

✓Ranking is rebounding — up to 40th (2025) from a 16th-percentile low (2023)

Worth a look

!Test scores below the California average (30% vs 41% meeting standards)

!High chronic absenteeism (36% vs 19% California)

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school30%

District avg32%

California avg41%

1,644^th of 2,761

California public middle schools ?

Bottom 40%▲ up 1 pts since 2015

See the entire ranking list of California Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

1104^th of 1,543Paradise Unified among California districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	35.0	1644 of 2761	40.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	18.8	2307 of 2783	17.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	18.8	2324 of 2781	16.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	26.2	1937 of 2740	29.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	41.7	1314 of 2480	47.0%	★★☆☆☆
2017	39.2	1416 of 2508	43.5%	★★☆☆☆
2016	35.6	1472 of 2497	41.0%	★★☆☆☆
2015	34.3	1492 of 2477	39.8%	★★☆☆☆
2013	44.3	1310 of 2379	44.9%	★★☆☆☆
2012	46.3	1183 of 2259	47.6%	★★☆☆☆
2011	38.2	1405 of 2236	37.2%	★★☆☆☆
2010	38.3	1355 of 2179	37.8%	★★☆☆☆
2009	40.7	1192 of 2063	42.2%	★★☆☆☆
2008	40.6	1142 of 2005	43.0%	★★☆☆☆
2007	52.6	841 of 1999	57.9%	★★★☆☆
2006	50.8	798 of 1804	55.8%	★★★☆☆
2005	40.6	989 of 1777	44.3%	★★☆☆☆
2004	52.9	720 of 1769	59.3%	★★★☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2022	49.0	574 of 1531	62.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	39.9	706 of 1369	48.4%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	36.4	1483 of 2533	41.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	18.2	2176 of 2551	14.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	15.6	2271 of 2531	10.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	25.6	1807 of 2509	28.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	36.3	1395 of 2262	38.3%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	38.3	1385 of 2395	42.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	21.7	1953 of 2388	18.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	8.1	2336 of 2374	1.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	46.9	1079 of 2359	54.3%	★★★☆☆
2018	43.4	1091 of 2072	47.3%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	37.8	1485 of 2542	41.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	21.8	2107 of 2579	18.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	21.6	2094 of 2531	17.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	32.3	1606 of 2458	34.7%	★★☆☆☆
2018	40.4	1245 of 2230	44.2%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	33.8	1573 of 2534	37.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	19.4	2112 of 2552	17.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	22.8	1953 of 2538	23.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	24.9	1853 of 2527	26.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	45.8	1098 of 2273	51.7%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	34.6	948 of 1566	39.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	23.7	1330 of 1552	14.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	30.9	1052 of 1531	31.3%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	18.7	1259 of 1520	17.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	6.5	1473 of 1537	4.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	7.4	1469 of 1543	4.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	9.5	1457 of 1555	6.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	23.9	1178 of 1496	21.3%	★☆☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Disabled (2022)63rd percentile+33 vs school

Hispanic (2025)42nd percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)42nd percentile~ school

Female (2025)41st percentile~ school

Special Education (2025)39th percentile~ school

Male (2025)38th percentile-3 vs school

White (2025)17th percentile-23 vs school

By subject vs California (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts/Literacy33%-16 vs state

Mathematics29%-8 vs state

Science25%-8 vs state

★

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Schools Near Paradise Junior High

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				CAST Science (2025)		Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy (2025)				Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics (2025)				Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	CAST Science 8th Grade	CAST Science All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 6th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 7th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 8th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 6th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 7th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 8th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Paradise Junior High	Public	7-8	5657 Recreation Dr.	Paradise	95969	Butte County	Paradise Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(530) 872-6465	197	12	16.5	70.6%	138 (70.1%)	1 (0.5%)	39 (19.8%)	1 (0.5%)	6 (3.0%)	1 (0.5%)	11 (5.6%)	35	1644^th of 2761 public middle schools	40.5%		18.8	2307^th of 2783 public middle schools	17.1%	663	24.7	24.7		26.4	40.0	32.8		25.8	32.5	28.9	$23,657	$21,206	$2,451
Paradise Charter Middle	Public, Charter	6-8	6473 Clark Rd.	Paradise	95969	Butte County	Paradise Charter Middle District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(530) 872-7277	143	7	20.4	51.0%	114 (79.7%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (12.6%)	3 (2.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (5.6%)	65.3	780^th of 2761 public middle schools	71.7%		48.2	1211^th of 2783 public middle schools	56.5%	431	51.9	51.9	56.1	50.0	53.9	53.2	31.7	26.0	61.5	40.6
Marsh (Harry M.) Junior High	Public	6-8	2253 Humboldt Rd.	Chico	95928	Butte County	Chico Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(530) 895-4110	716	36	19.7	57.3%	367 (51.3%)	19 (2.7%)	189 (26.4%)	48 (6.7%)	7 (1.0%)	2 (0.3%)	82 (11.5%)	75.1	581^st of 2761 public middle schools	79.0%		77.7	532^nd of 2783 public middle schools	80.9%	49	45.8	45.8	57.0	65.7	70.7	64.2	39.1	43.8	46.0	42.9	$20,231	$19,716	$515
Bidwell Junior High	Public	6-8	2376 North Ave.	Chico	95926	Butte County	Chico Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(530) 891-3080	1,012	42	24.1	52.3%	562 (55.5%)	12 (1.2%)	292 (28.9%)	49 (4.8%)	9 (0.9%)	7 (0.7%)	80 (7.9%)	62.8	833^rd of 2761 public middle schools	69.8%		67	741^st of 2783 public middle schools	73.4%	92	50.2	50.2	52.7	49.9	57.8	53.3	36.1	34.5	37.0	35.8	$17,234	$16,314	$920
Chico Junior High	Public	6-8	280 Memorial Way	Chico	95926	Butte County	Chico Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(530) 891-3066	861	39	22.1	63.9%	335 (38.9%)	22 (2.6%)	339 (39.4%)	43 (5.0%)	12 (1.4%)	6 (0.7%)	100 (11.6%)	60	908^th of 2761 public middle schools	67.1%		64.2	799^th of 2783 public middle schools	71.3%	109	41.2	41.2	44.2	52.9	59.1	52.3	35.0	36.0	34.3	35.0	$18,392	$17,290	$1,102
Durham Intermediate	Public	6-8	9416 Putney Dr.	Durham	95938	Butte County	Durham Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(530) 895-4690	233	12	19.1	39.9%	164 (70.4%)	0 (0.0%)	53 (22.7%)	1 (0.4%)	4 (1.7%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (4.7%)	65.5	772^nd of 2761 public middle schools	72.0%		68.4	714^th of 2783 public middle schools	74.3%	58	38.4	38.4	50.6	64.5	43.2	52.8	41.8	57.9	32.9	44.3	$50,484	$49,292	$1,192
Nelson Avenue Middle	Public	6-8	2255 Sixth St.	Oroville	95965	Butte County	Thermalito Union Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(530) 538-2940	456	23	19.4	85.7%	162 (35.5%)	8 (1.8%)	71 (15.6%)	162 (35.5%)	10 (2.2%)	2 (0.4%)	41 (9.0%)	35.8	1625^th of 2761 public middle schools	41.1%		33.5	1691^st of 2783 public middle schools	39.2%	66	28.9	28.9	33.3	44.3	39.9	39.0	17.6	25.2	28.2	23.3	$23,855	$23,578	$277
Heritage Community Day	Public	4-8	2255 Sixth St.	Oroville	95965	Butte County	Thermalito Union Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(530) 538-4376	5	1	4.9		4 (80.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (20.0%)								(n/a)
Ishi Hills Middle	Public	6-8	1 Ishi Hills Way	Oroville	95966	Butte County	Oroville City Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(530) 532-3078	294	17	17.0	68.0%	153 (52.0%)	9 (3.1%)	59 (20.1%)	14 (4.8%)	9 (3.1%)	1 (0.3%)	49 (16.7%)	20.1	2217^th of 2761 public middle schools	19.7%		22.1	2169^th of 2783 public middle schools	22.1%	48	13.2	13.2	32.2	32.5	31.1	31.9	9.2	14.5	16.5	13.4	$25,417	$24,504	$913
The Studios @ Central	Public	5-8	2565 Mesa Ave.	Oroville	95966	Butte County	Oroville City Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(530) 532-3002	300	20	15.3	76.3%	124 (41.3%)	15 (5.0%)	71 (23.7%)	53 (17.7%)	7 (2.3%)	0 (0.0%)	30 (10.0%)	17.2	2347^th of 2761 public middle schools	15.0%		15.2	2471^st of 2783 public middle schools	11.2%	124	22.2	22.2	32.9	12.5	24.4	22.5	16.7	0.0	13.2	9.5	$29,094	$27,974	$1,120

Frequently Asked Questions about Paradise Junior High

What high school do graduates of Paradise Junior High attend?

Students who attend Paradise Junior High usually go on to attend Paradise Senior High

Is Paradise Junior High a good school?

Paradise Junior High ranks 1644^th of 2761 California middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What district is Paradise Junior High in?

Paradise Unified

How many students attend Paradise Junior High?

In the 2024-25 school year, 197 students attended Paradise Junior High.

What is the racial makeup of Paradise Junior High?

Students at Paradise Junior High are 70% White, 20% Hispanic, 6% Two or more races, 3% American Indian.

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Latest California data All new data »

2024–25 school spending dataJul 1, 2026

2024–25 attendance dataMar 13, 2026

2024–25 CSA Spanish test scoresDec 22, 2025

2024–25 dropout rates & graduation ratesNov 14, 2025

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the California Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.